Cast includes Amanda Ahn, a student at the Vancouver Virtual Learning Academy; Joey and Tyler Stanley, from Camas High School; and Daisy Morguess, from Brush Prairie
PORTLAND. – The Portland Ballet (TPB) presents the world premiere of Tom Gold’s Petrushka, created about Portland, for Portland, as a special gift to the city. Set during Thanksgiving dinner at an iconic historic hotel in the glamorous 1950s, immigrant busboy Petrushka is in love with a dazzling lounge singer, who in turn is in love with a dashing doorman. This timeless story of unrequited love and heartbreak will be paired with John Clifford’s stirring Firebird for a thrilling all-Stravinsky program performed live by the Portland State University Orchestra.
“I hope to create a wonderful gift to the people and city of Portland that will endure for many years to come,” Gold said. “‘Petrushka’ and I go way back starting when I was 7 and invited to be a child performer in the Joffrey’s revival starring Rudolph Nureyev. Since then it has been on my radar, but I always thought it needed a modern twist.”
Four dancers from Clark County will be featured in the performance on Thanksgiving weekend.
Joey and Tyler Stanley, twin brothers from Camas, will rotate in the lead role of Petrushka. They are 16 and in the 11th grade at Camas High School. They have performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Enchanted Toyshop, Current/Classic, and The Nutcracker. They have been studying ballet for 12 years, and have also trained at Astoria School of Ballet, and Evergreen Dance Academy in Vancouver.
Amanda Ahn, from Salmon Creek, is in The Portland Ballet’s Career Track program for pre-professionals. She is 17 and in the 11th grade at Vancouver Virtual Learning Academy — Lieser Campus. She has attended summer dance programs at Ferla Ballet Intensive at Dance Theatre International in San Jose, Joffrey LA West, and Alvin Ailey Professional Division. Amanda produced the award-winning video documentary A Dancer’s Sacrifice.
Daisy Morguess, from Brush Prairie, is 15. She is homeschooled and in the 9th grade.
About Petrushka
Gold has packed many distinct Portland references throughout Petrushka to be discovered like surprise Easter eggs.
John Clifford’s Firebird, which has been a TPB audience favorite since 2005, returns to the stage with its dynamic choreography and riveting tale of love and vengeance. Based on Russian fairy tales, the spirited Firebird and a royal prince team up to break an enchanting spell by an evil magician. When Artistic Director Nancy Davis and Executive Director Jim Lane were principal dancers with the Los Angeles Ballet, they danced the lead roles about 75 times, nationwide.
TPB and the PSU Orchestra, under the direction of Ken Selden, celebrate 11 years of collaborating to produce what has become a Portland holiday tradition, with original choreography, staging, sets, costumes, and lighting.
Six performances take place November 29, 30 & December 1, 1 and 5 p.m., at PSU Lincoln Hall. The whole show moves along quickly in just 80 minutes. Tickets start at only $10 and are available at theportlandballet.org or (503) 452-8448.
Tom Gold is founder and director of Tom Gold Dance and performed for 21 years with the New York City Ballet, where he rose to the rank of soloist. In demand internationally as a guest artist, choreographer, and instructor, he has created more than a dozen original works for Tom Gold Dance, Vassar College, the Bermuda Arts Festival, Oregon Ballet Theatre, the New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, and many other dance academies, companies, festivals, television shows, and special events.
John Clifford, TPB artistic advisor who works regularly with TPB students, is best known as founder and artistic director of the original Los Angeles Ballet, and a principal dancer and choreographer with New York City Ballet. He is widely considered to be George Balanchine’s choreographic protégé.
Ken Selden was appointed conductor and music director of the Symphony Orchestra and New Music Ensemble at Portland State University in fall 2006. Under his direction, the PSU Symphony has received three awards in Adventurous Programming from ASCAP and the League of American Orchestras. He has appeared as guest conductor of the Oregon Symphony and many regional orchestras.
Details
The Portland Ballet presents Tom Gold’s world premiere Petrushka and John Clifford’s stirring Firebird for a thrilling all-Stravinsky program Thanksgiving weekend. The PSU Orchestra, under the direction of Ken Selden, will perform live at every concert.
Dates: Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 1, 2019, Thanksgiving weekend Time: 1 and 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (6 performances)
Where: Lincoln Performance Hall at PSU, 1620 SW Park at Market, Portland, OR
Tickets: Start at $10 and go on sale Oct. 25.
Runtime: 80 minutes, including one intermission
Information: theportlandballet.org or 503-452-8448
Discounts:
• First-Show Friday: All tickets for the 1 p.m. show on Friday, Nov. 29, will be only $10.
• Family Package: For TIER 1 pricing, when purchasing two adult and two or more youth tickets, all youth tickets will be $6 off.
• Group Discount: 10 or more tickets will receive 10% off.
• Good deals: Limited Arts Card and Arts for All tickets. Special Opportunities:
• Swag bags: Our signature gift bags will be handed out to young people.
• Activities: The fun starts in the lobby with photo opportunities and activities.
• Meet the cast: Audience members are invited to stay after every performance to meet the cast, take photos with them, and have their programs signed.
